The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced a budget allocation of nearly GH¢800 million to support students at both tertiary and basic school levels. As part of this initiative, GH¢499.8 million has been set aside for the No-Academic-Fee policy under the “No-Fees-Stress” initiative, which covers first-year students in public tertiary institutions. This move aligns with the John Mahama government’s campaign promise to introduce free tertiary education, though the policy currently applies only to first-year students.
In addition to easing the financial burden on tertiary students, the government is prioritizing menstrual hygiene for schoolgirls. A total of GH¢292.4 million has been allocated for the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools. This initiative aims to combat period poverty, which prevents many girls from attending school due to the high cost of menstrual products. However, some argue that removing the high taxes on sanitary pads would be a more effective long-term solution.
Despite the government’s efforts, concerns remain about the taxation of menstrual products, which continue to be classified as luxury items. Many activists and stakeholders believe that eliminating these taxes would make sanitary products more accessible to all girls, rather than relying on government-funded distribution programs. While the budgeted intervention is a step in the right direction, there are growing calls for a policy shift that would make menstrual hygiene products permanently affordable for every Ghanaian girl.
